Thursday, March 18, 2010

OLD La Sallians Association of Klang (OLAK), a permanent fixture in the Junior Hockey League since 1995, have been bundled out after 15 years due to financial constrains. The Klang-based side has a colourful history, and its manager Joseph de Silva has seen them through thick-and- then, but the coffers finally dried up. “It is a sad day for our club, as we have never missed a single JHL season since its debut in 1995. “And we did face many problems over the years, but our sponsors kept us afloat. However, the coast of fielding a team in the JHL keeps going higher and higher over the years, and the club can no longer carry the burden, financially,” said Joseph. Olak were the League champions in 1997, and the fol lowing year, they won the double. The feat was repeated in 1999, while their last Overall title was won in 2000. And some of the national players he club nurtured are still in active duty like Madzli Ikmar and Amain Rahim, the best penalty corner flicker in the country today. Madzli wore the skipper’s armband during the New Zealand World Cup Qualifiers last November. Meanwhile, The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) have received 16 entries for the JHL which will start on April 9. Last year 23 teams competed, with 13 in Division One and 10 in Division Two. UniKL, Sabah Hockey Association, SMK Teknik Klang and SMK Pengkalan Permatang of Selangor will be making their debut this season. The other confirmed teams are double champions Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), BJSS Juniors, Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS), BPSS Juniors, Anderson, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Matri Perlis, SMK Datuk Taha, Kuantan Sports Council, Johor Sports Council, Tunku Besar School and Ipoh City Council. Entries close today, and the MHF expect more teams to register.

NEGRI Sembilan beat Sarawak 5-0 in Group B of the National Under-16 tournament in Sandakan yesterday, but will have to wait for the Perak-Penang match today to know their fate. Negri, with 12 points, have completed their fixtures while Perak have 12 points and a match in hand with 28 goals, and have sealed their semi-finals slot. However, if Penang beat Perak in the final pool match today, they will squeeze Negri our of the last four. In Group A, Kuala Lumpur kept a clean slate with their fifth consecutive win against Kelantan, albeit a narrow 3-2, and will complete their fixtures against Pahang today. The other semis ticket will be a toss between Selangorm and Johor. RESULTS: Group A: Perlis 1 Selangor 3, Kuala Lumpur 3 Kelantan 2, Pahang 0 Singapore 1; Group B: Negri Sembilan 5 Sarawak 0. TODAY: Group A: Kuala Lumpur v Pahang (9.30am), Perlis v Singapore (3pm), Johor v Kelantan (4.30pm). Group B: Penang v Perak (6.30am), Sabah v Malacca (8.30am).

DEFENDING champions Kuala Lumpur have qualified for the semi-finals of the National Under-15 Championship in Sandakan yesterday.KL collected their fourth straight win in the competition by edging Johor 3-2 in a Group A match. They will face Kelantan in their final group match today.In Group B, last year’s runners-up Perak are virtually in the last four after they thrashed Malacca 6-1 yesterday.Negri Sembilan and Penang are the others teams in contention for a place in the semi-finals. RESULTS: Group A: Pahang 0 Selangor 7, Kelantan 2 Singapore 2, Johor 2 Kuala Lumpur 3;Group B: Sarawak 0 Penang 6, Negri Sembilan 3 Sabah 2, Malacca 1 Perak 6. TODAY: Group A: Perlis v Selangor (6.30am), Kuala Lumpur v Kelantan (8am), Pahang v Singapore (9.30am).

ISLAMABAD: Less than a week after they resigned owning moral responsibility for their flop show in the World Cup in Delhi, Pakistani hockey players have taken their resignations back. Pakistan finished 12th in the World Cup, but the players agreed to take back their resignations after a meeting with Federal Sports Minister Ijaz Jakhrani. According to sources, Jakhrani asked the players to withdraw their resignations, saying they were still 'good enough' to serve the nation. Jakhrani said he has also asked the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Qasim Zia not to accept the players' resignation. Asked whether PHF secretary and team manager Asif Bajwa would be sacked or not, Jakhrani said a final decision would be taken by the PHF. "I will consult with the higher authorities and if we feel that by sacking Bajwa Pakistan hockey can improve, we will remove him," The Daily Times quoted Jakhrani, as saying.

Australia has taken over the first position of the ABN AMRO World Rankings after winning the Hero Honda FIH World Cup. The Kookaburras took over the lead from Olympic Champion Germany, who is now ranked second. The result of the Hero Honda FIH World Cup provided more changes in the ABN AMRO World Ranking. Netherlands is back in the top three, while India entered the top 10, moving from the 12th to the 9th position. Argentina advanced four places and is now ranked 10th. Malaysia improved one notch to 14th, probably because they made the final of the World Cup Qualifier in Invercargill, New Zealand.

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) confirmed that the 1st Asian Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Ipoh on April 13-18, has been postponed indefinitely after South Korea and Pakistan pulled out. MHF secretary Hashim Yusoff said he received notification on the matter from the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) on Tuesday. "Korea did not state their reason while Pakistan lost their entire team and management staff after doing badly in the recent World Cup," said Hashim yesterday. "AHF has yet to inform us (MHF) on the new dates. We will decide whether to host the tournament after they release the new dates." China were the other team set to contest the four-nation Champions Trophy. Pakistan Hockey Federation president Qasim Zia sacked the entire team management -- including coach, manager and selectors -- after Pakistan finished last in the 12-team World Cup in Delhi last week. Hashim said the postponement of the tournament will not affect the national team's preparation for priority tournaments. "The national team's first international assignment of the year will be the Azlan Shah Cup (Ipoh on May 6-16). "We may arrange international friendly matches for our team ahead of the event," he added. The national squad, who have started training, are preparing for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games in October and the Guangzhou Asian Games a month later.

ALWAYS HAPPY

ON A HIGH

Always Somewhere..

Sports Journalist with the New Straits Times since 1994.
My main beat is field hockey, so this blog will have stories that I have written for the NST, as well as hockey news from around the globe. There will be regular updates. I was also the Secretary General of the National Press Club, Malaysia for three terms (six years).